H1N1 vaccine shortage and how the virus invades your body

To receive the vaccine or not to receive the vaccine, that was the question. Now it appears vaccination may not even be an option for many people. This morning, Monday October 26, 2009, NPR's Morning Edition covered this topic:Swine Flu Vaccine Shortage: Why? Richard Knox reports on the shortage and gives detailed information on why there is a shortage. (listen to report here)

In an article published today by Examiner Charisse Van Horn, titled, H1N1 pandemic WHO update and the H1N1 vaccine she says, "As the vaccines were recently made available, it has become apparent that there are fewer vaccines for high risk groups than were previously anticipated. It is expected that more vaccines will be available in November." Her article also has more information on the vaccines, the types of vaccines, how it is manufactured and how it is administered (read article here).

So, whether you are still debating getting the vaccine, wanting to get it and unable to, or actually dealing with the flu in your own life what can you do to be proactive right now? Remember the precautions that are being recommended, cough into your elbow, wash your hands - rubbing them together to create friction, keep your hands away from your face and check out NPR's article, Flu Attack! How A Virus Invades Your Body by Robert Krulwich, which has an animation that shows how the body is invaded by a virus. According to David Bolinsky, who helped create the video, "...what you see in the video actually happens much, much faster in real life — in a fraction of a fraction of a second. So this is a very slow motion version of cellular activity." This video is very well done and educational (watch here).

Comments

Great tips. I have another one child learned at school:
My child says the kids learned to cough and sneeze into their elbow with Germy Wormie, and I was totally taken aback. I always covered with my hands. But I went to the website and now I get it, hands touch, elbows don't!! Kids can touch 300 surfaces in 1/2 hour and they hate to wash their hands. This is a simple thing that can make a huge difference. There is also an entertaining DVD that teaches them in a fun way the elbow cough, as well as other important hygiene habits.

Mary Ann Maxwell-Hebbert is a professional massage therapist. She is Upledger trained in CranioSacral Therapy also certified in Thai massage as well as deep tissue massage and neuromuscular massage. She believes that how we choose to view the world and the experiences we have in it has an impact on our personal health and happiness and that we have the ability to change our habits and perspectives and thus change our health and emotions. She loves the work she does as a massage therapist and feels blessed by the people she interacts with that touch her life in so many ways. Mary Ann is the mother of four amazing children who keep her laughing with their great gifts of humor. She loves living in PA and enjoys taking time with her children or her husband to get out and explore the area. She can be reached at heartfelthealing@gmail.com.